New Water Standards Put SuDS at the Centre of Planning
Why SuDS keep gaining ground Updated guidance and public pressure to reduce pollution are pushing SuDS to the centre of planning. Multifunctional drainage that slows, stores, and treats […]
Month: August 2025
Planning for a Nature Levy – Reduce Costs by Designing BNG In
What a nature levy could mean Proposals for a nature restoration levy would increase costs for schemes that do not integrate biodiversity from the outset. While details are […]
River Health in Focus – Strengthen Water Quality Evidence
Rivers in the spotlight With funds from pollution fines being reinvested into river health projects, expectations on new developments to protect water quality are rising. Planners increasingly ask […]
Avoid Greenwashing Claims: Build a Strong Evidence Base
Scrutiny is rising—even if rules soften As national policies shift, public and media scrutiny of environmental performance is intensifying. Developers that under‑document risk or over‑claim benefits face reputational […]
Ecology vs Housing? How to Deliver Both Without Delay
Balancing ecology and delivery Public debate continues around how to accelerate housing while protecting wildlife. For planners, the answer is not to choose one or the other but […]
New SuDS Standards Raise Expectations – Evidence You’ll Need
Updated SuDS standards raise expectations National guidance and industry standards for SuDS have been refreshed, placing greater emphasis on water quality, biodiversity and long‑term maintenance. Even where SuDS […]
Biodiversity Net Gain Awareness Low – Why It Matters for Developers
BNG is law—but awareness is low Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) now applies to most Town and Country Planning Act developments in England, requiring a minimum 10% net gain […]
Ofwat Abolition and Water Regulation Reform – Implications for Development
Why water regulation is changing Government plans to replace Ofwat with a consolidated water regulator signal tougher oversight of pollution, assets and customer outcomes. For planning, the biggest […]
UK Falling Behind EU Environmental Standards – What It Means for Developers
Environmental standards after Brexit Recent analyses suggest the UK is slipping behind the EU on air, water and chemicals controls. While this doesn’t remove planning obligations, it does […]
SuDS Set to Become Mandatory – What Developers Need to Know
Why SuDS policy is changing Drainage and water management have become headline issues across the UK. Following a landmark review, the Independent Water Commission has recommended making Sustainable […]